Older women are often relegated to a "narrative of decline," portrayed through limiting tropes: Women Over 50: The Right to be Seen on Screen

In 2025, not a single top-grossing film featured a woman of color aged 45 or older in a lead role. Breaking Tropes and Stereotypes

Only about 25% of films pass this test, which requires a female character over 50 who is essential to the plot and not reduced to a stereotype.

Representation remains heavily skewed toward youth. In 2024, only featured a woman aged 45 or older in a leading role, a number that dropped even further in 2025.